Andy hoping for a good home run of form

ANDY Williams believes that Swindon Town are turning their County Ground home into a fortress.

The striker, who bagged his second goal in two matches in Saturday’s 2-0 win over Crewe Alexandra, feels that it has been a fine start to the season for the Robins.

The victory over Crewe saw the club maintain their perfect start to their home campaign and moved Town into sixth place in the League One table.

“We have started well, away we haven’t quite picked up the points that we have possibly deserved,” he said.

“But at home we are starting to make this place a bit of fortress, hopefully that will continue.”

Williams, is now one of the elder statesmen in Mark Cooper’s squad at 28 and after returning to the side following a serious cruciate ligament injury, is forming a good strike partnership with Michael Smith.

While the forward admits that it will take time for them to get used to how they play, he knows that they will continue to improve given the chance.

“It is going to take time, any partnership between two strikers does,” he said.

“We had pre-season together, probably four games, no more than 45 or 60 minutes at a time so it will take a period of time to progress and improve.

“The more minutes we get on the pitch together, the better it will become for us and Swindon as well.

“We are still having opportunities to look for each other a bit more. Hopefully there will be a bit of time in the season we can find each other and set up a few goals for each other, as well as link up the play for other lads to get chances.”

For the past three matches, Town have dominated possession over their opponents and against Crewe they again had more than 60 per cent of the ball.

And Williams feels that this style of football is only going to help him.

“I think anyone who likes to play football this (style) can only suit them,” he said.

“Sometimes I like to run in behind a little bit more, but my pace in this sort of formation hopefully stretches the team and gives our talented midfielders even more time and space on the ball.

“I’d like to think that I can affect it anyway I possibly can. Keep giving me chances to score and I’m not going to complain with two in two.”

Mark Cooper is also hoping that Williams can continue his form after his impressive start to the campaign.

The Town boss said: “He’s got a history of going on runs and scoring goals, so we hope that run keeps going.

“Him and Michael have linked up well in the last few games. If two of them get on a run they will be a real threat to anyone.”

Comments (10)

Two very easy wins against two very poor sides is hardly an indication that we're turning the place into a fortress. If we get into November unbeaten at home, there might be some justification for that statement.

Great to see Williams play so well and get another goal on Saturday. His tireless attitude should serve us well through the winter, which was when some of our players disappeared last season.

Two very easy wins against two very poor sides is hardly an indication that we're turning the place into a fortress. If we get into November unbeaten at home, there might be some justification for that statement.
Great to see Williams play so well and get another goal on Saturday. His tireless attitude should serve us well through the winter, which was when some of our players disappeared last season.Oi Den!

Wouldn't it be great to hear the crowd going wild chanting "WILMA" in a totally positive way for the rest of this season as he continues banging in the goals. Not a daft as it sounds. Good luck on Tues and Sat this week.

Wouldn't it be great to hear the crowd going wild chanting "WILMA" in a totally positive way for the rest of this season as he continues banging in the goals. Not a daft as it sounds. Good luck on Tues and Sat this week.grovesie

Oi Den! wrote:
Two very easy wins against two very poor sides is hardly an indication that we're turning the place into a fortress. If we get into November unbeaten at home, there might be some justification for that statement.

Great to see Williams play so well and get another goal on Saturday. His tireless attitude should serve us well through the winter, which was when some of our players disappeared last season.

Den... you can only beat sides put in front of you... pre season friendlies don't count...league wins do... start being positive and the bandwagon might start to really roll rather than suggest it was just just poor opposition...total domination of the football in the last 4 games suggests there is far more right than wrong. You might even then start to encourage a few more fans to turn up and support the team. One thing for sure, knowing the fickle nature they won't if the team are losing games and reading critical comments on here each week.

Two high profile games coming up this week..we need more fans in to support the team and the club to maintain the progress being made.

[quote][p][bold]Oi Den![/bold] wrote:
Two very easy wins against two very poor sides is hardly an indication that we're turning the place into a fortress. If we get into November unbeaten at home, there might be some justification for that statement.
Great to see Williams play so well and get another goal on Saturday. His tireless attitude should serve us well through the winter, which was when some of our players disappeared last season.[/p][/quote]Den... you can only beat sides put in front of you... pre season friendlies don't count...league wins do... start being positive and the bandwagon might start to really roll rather than suggest it was just just poor opposition...total domination of the football in the last 4 games suggests there is far more right than wrong. You might even then start to encourage a few more fans to turn up and support the team. One thing for sure, knowing the fickle nature they won't if the team are losing games and reading critical comments on here each week.
Two high profile games coming up this week..we need more fans in to support the team and the club to maintain the progress being made.Cleuso

You're changing the subject Cleuso. All I said was that you can't take two easy wins against poor teams as an indication that we're turning the County Ground into a fortress. The real tests at home will come against the better sides and on heavier pitches. You're entitled to disagree but if, on the basis of those two games, you really think we're difficult to beat at home, I think you're counting chickens.

You say more is right than wrong. Who said otherwise? If you are looking for my frank opinion of how the season will go, I'd say we'll finish about 12th - that's unless we can sign 2 or 3 key players. Despite the sparkling football from our midfield at times so far, I'm still not convinced we have the strength in that department to see us through the winter. We obviously need a centre half and perhaps a striker to give Williams and Smith some competition.

You're certainly right about results affecting attendances but I think you're overestimating the power of this forum. It's basically a few dozen people in discussion. Who is really going to give a monkey's about what you or I have to say, whether it's sunny optimism, doom-laden pessimism or something in between?

You're changing the subject Cleuso. All I said was that you can't take two easy wins against poor teams as an indication that we're turning the County Ground into a fortress. The real tests at home will come against the better sides and on heavier pitches. You're entitled to disagree but if, on the basis of those two games, you really think we're difficult to beat at home, I think you're counting chickens.
You say more is right than wrong. Who said otherwise? If you are looking for my frank opinion of how the season will go, I'd say we'll finish about 12th - that's unless we can sign 2 or 3 key players. Despite the sparkling football from our midfield at times so far, I'm still not convinced we have the strength in that department to see us through the winter. We obviously need a centre half and perhaps a striker to give Williams and Smith some competition.
You're certainly right about results affecting attendances but I think you're overestimating the power of this forum. It's basically a few dozen people in discussion. Who is really going to give a monkey's about what you or I have to say, whether it's sunny optimism, doom-laden pessimism or something in between?Oi Den!

Den. Enough were moaning last season about our failure to beat the lower teams at home costing us.. ie Colchester Oldham... Saturday was a comprehensive victory. We should celebrate that.

Read the match reporter though and there are enough negatives in there to fill a wicker basket despite the team's domination. He even suggested we won't beat Sheff Utd and Peterborough playing as we did on Saturday... is he some tactical genious or what ?... does he really know ? Has he studied the way those teams have played this season.. I rather doubt it.

The trouble is all this sort of comment is replicated as gospel in all the pubs , clubs and workplaces around the County..it sets the mood... oh we only beat Crewe, casts doubt when none exists...and hardly encourages the wavering to fill the County Ground.

Even if just 20 read our commments you can bet they will pass the thoughts in some way or another to 20 others spreading negativity as having a moan is unfortunately the natural trait of many in the nation and especialy amongst football supporters.

Only last week we had a tirade about the PA yet was it a problem ? Did the adver write a story to say the club acted swiftly and efficiently to resolve the issue. No !

If it's just results that affect attendances then just one defeat in 5 games, only team with a 100% record at home in League should bring crowds flocking to see a team playing a stylish passsing game... just £12 tomorrow against higher league opposition... we shall see whether it's just results or not, even for those that haven't attended this season.

Den. Enough were moaning last season about our failure to beat the lower teams at home costing us.. ie Colchester Oldham... Saturday was a comprehensive victory. We should celebrate that.
Read the match reporter though and there are enough negatives in there to fill a wicker basket despite the team's domination. He even suggested we won't beat Sheff Utd and Peterborough playing as we did on Saturday... is he some tactical genious or what ?... does he really know ? Has he studied the way those teams have played this season.. I rather doubt it.
The trouble is all this sort of comment is replicated as gospel in all the pubs , clubs and workplaces around the County..it sets the mood... oh we only beat Crewe, casts doubt when none exists...and hardly encourages the wavering to fill the County Ground.
Even if just 20 read our commments you can bet they will pass the thoughts in some way or another to 20 others spreading negativity as having a moan is unfortunately the natural trait of many in the nation and especialy amongst football supporters.
Only last week we had a tirade about the PA yet was it a problem ? Did the adver write a story to say the club acted swiftly and efficiently to resolve the issue. No !
If it's just results that affect attendances then just one defeat in 5 games, only team with a 100% record at home in League should bring crowds flocking to see a team playing a stylish passsing game... just £12 tomorrow against higher league opposition... we shall see whether it's just results or not, even for those that haven't attended this season.Cleuso

Sorry Cleuso but I think you're confusing negativity with refusal to get carried away. They are two completely different things. I don't think there's anything particularly pessimistic about waiting to see how good we are before agreeing with the suggestion that we're impregnable at home. The first two home games are no indication of that, any more than the first two away games show that we'll pick up only 11 or 12 points on our travels. The manager was right to say that we shouldn't read too much into early season results.

Sorry Cleuso but I think you're confusing negativity with refusal to get carried away. They are two completely different things. I don't think there's anything particularly pessimistic about waiting to see how good we are before agreeing with the suggestion that we're impregnable at home. The first two home games are no indication of that, any more than the first two away games show that we'll pick up only 11 or 12 points on our travels. The manager was right to say that we shouldn't read too much into early season results.Oi Den!

Just one more comment on attendances. The main driving factor for bums on seats is, was and always will be results. If we can win with style, so much the better but the truth is is that the end is more important to most people than the means. Lou Macari's football was some of the most "functional" we've ever seen from a Town team and Di Canio's was not far behind but the casuals came out in numbers because we were winning. That's the way it is, whether we like it or not. Losing in style makes lots of friends but it will do nothing for tangible support.

Just one more comment on attendances. The main driving factor for bums on seats is, was and always will be results. If we can win with style, so much the better but the truth is is that the end is more important to most people than the means. Lou Macari's football was some of the most "functional" we've ever seen from a Town team and Di Canio's was not far behind but the casuals came out in numbers because we were winning. That's the way it is, whether we like it or not. Losing in style makes lots of friends but it will do nothing for tangible support.Oi Den!

Yeah I agree with the Macari and Di Canio bit very functional football . It was the rhetoric that accompanied it that got the fans engaged and attending rather than the football, because everyone talked it up, rather than the quality and style.

At present there is too much talking down, we had it all through the summer... relegation certainties, no one signed etc etc. etc. Now it's something else, it sets the tone, sets the mood and opinions in the Town. Thankfully most there on Saturday had an appreciation of what the team was doing and remained patient with the keep ball.

If we continue to retain possession as we have in the last 4 games and dominate the matches expect a large number of goals to come in the latter part of games as the opposition get tired of chasing the ball. Crewe's lone front man gave up any meaningful work long before the end Saturday .....

Yeah I agree with the Macari and Di Canio bit very functional football . It was the rhetoric that accompanied it that got the fans engaged and attending rather than the football, because everyone talked it up, rather than the quality and style.
At present there is too much talking down, we had it all through the summer... relegation certainties, no one signed etc etc. etc. Now it's something else, it sets the tone, sets the mood and opinions in the Town. Thankfully most there on Saturday had an appreciation of what the team was doing and remained patient with the keep ball.
If we continue to retain possession as we have in the last 4 games and dominate the matches expect a large number of goals to come in the latter part of games as the opposition get tired of chasing the ball. Crewe's lone front man gave up any meaningful work long before the end Saturday .....Cleuso

Oi Den! wrote:
Just one more comment on attendances. The main driving factor for bums on seats is, was and always will be results. If we can win with style, so much the better but the truth is is that the end is more important to most people than the means. Lou Macari's football was some of the most &quot;functional" we've ever seen from a Town team and Di Canio's was not far behind but the casuals came out in numbers because we were winning. That's the way it is, whether we like it or not. Losing in style makes lots of friends but it will do nothing for tangible support.

Not sure results will increase dramatically with anything short of a promotion either though. Maybe not even then to the extent we might think. People either want to go or not, and yes you'll get a bit of an uplift if results are going well, and if we're looking like getting in the play offs or winning the league, the last three or four home games of a season may be filled up with people hedging their bets on getting Wembley tickets, but our attendances have been pretty constant for the past few years regardless of where we are in the league or how results are going. Said it before and will say it again, there seems to be a finite number of people in Swindon bothered by getting to the match on a Saturday rather than doing whatever else people do. A big new ground with great facilities and a couple of solid seasons in the championship would definitely see things change but no real chance of that happening. Not a big club and not a big football loving town at the end of the day.

[quote][p][bold]Oi Den![/bold] wrote:
Just one more comment on attendances. The main driving factor for bums on seats is, was and always will be results. If we can win with style, so much the better but the truth is is that the end is more important to most people than the means. Lou Macari's football was some of the most "functional" we've ever seen from a Town team and Di Canio's was not far behind but the casuals came out in numbers because we were winning. That's the way it is, whether we like it or not. Losing in style makes lots of friends but it will do nothing for tangible support.[/p][/quote]Not sure results will increase dramatically with anything short of a promotion either though. Maybe not even then to the extent we might think. People either want to go or not, and yes you'll get a bit of an uplift if results are going well, and if we're looking like getting in the play offs or winning the league, the last three or four home games of a season may be filled up with people hedging their bets on getting Wembley tickets, but our attendances have been pretty constant for the past few years regardless of where we are in the league or how results are going. Said it before and will say it again, there seems to be a finite number of people in Swindon bothered by getting to the match on a Saturday rather than doing whatever else people do. A big new ground with great facilities and a couple of solid seasons in the championship would definitely see things change but no real chance of that happening. Not a big club and not a big football loving town at the end of the day.Swindon1984